Name: Lycanthrope
Vitality: C-rank (A-rank in Berserker Form)
Discrete Parts: Shoulders, Nose
Mana Reserves: Low
Element: Shadow or Ice (most common)
Drops: Lycanthrovirus Blood
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The lycans are a variant of shapeshifters with various degrees of canine features. A lycanthrope may look fully human, have adorable, pointed ears and fluffy tail, or take on a completely savage appearance as a wolfman.
Due to the virulent nature of this disease, some lycans do not have access to any other form, forever stuck with their animalistic features. These lycans are commonly forced to the fringes of society since they cannot blend with humans who often harbor animosity to their kind. As such, numerous communities have developed for those afflicted with lycanthropy.
The lycan packs develop a hierarchy with alpha as leader, beta as high rankers, and delta as normal pack members. Outside the pack structure, lone wolves are known as omegas. The omega wolf is both ridiculed and lauded, since an omega is either one of two things: too meek to belong to the pack or too ferocious for even lycan society to accept them. Regardless, an omega werewolf ought to be given a wide girth.
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Highly regarded as hunters and trackers, the lycans' sensitive nose is a great boon to it. However, there is nothing that a werewolf hates more than getting booped on a nose. This is a good way to stun them, as lycans are quick and deal savage attacks in a frenzy. They are not the most durable of shifters. However, as they progressively have more wolfish features, they gain higher and higher regenerations rates due to the high concentration and activity of the lycanthrovirus in their bloodstream.
The disease lycanthropy is caused by the gene-editing lycanthrovirus. The virus is noted to have massive mana supplies given its size, and it is this mana which facilitates the drastic changes in its host. A major flaw exists in the lycanthrovirus design: silver. As the virus edits the genetic makeup of its host, it also imparts a crippling allergy to silver. In this vein, treatments of lycanthropy become very expensive very quickly since the medicine must be crafted with silver.
New werewolves are often created when the virus is passed from mother to baby or through the transmission of blood. In some areas, werewolves are even honored in special, blood rituals. But beware: new lycanthropes have a much harder time in controlling themselves.
Even the most composed lycans have great difficulty in mastering the rare but powerful berserker form....